Water-level indicator



(No ModL).

F. H. MONTREUIL. WATER LEVEL INDICATOR.

Patented May 5; 1891.

, [m/eiztah frank fLManf/wwl UNITED STATES ATENT QFFICE.

FRANK II. MONTREUIL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

WATER-LEVEL INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,699, dated May 5, 1891 Application filed Septemher27,1890. Serial No. 366,403. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. I\IONTREUIL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ater-Gages, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in water-gages for steam-generators; and the object of my invention is to construct a device which presents all the advantages of the ordinary water-gage, while at the same time it may be used at any desired elevation above the generator, instead of being restricted in its use, as the present gage is, to a height corresponding to the height of the water in the boiler.

To this end my invention consists in making a water-gage in which the water of the gage is controlled by steam-pressure instead of by hydrostatic pressure, as in the ordinary device; and my invention consists, therefore, of two or more independent columns of water sustained by the pressure of the steam in the generator, according to the height of the water therein, all as more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation showing my device as applied to a steam-generator of ordinary construction. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line m w in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing my improved device combined with the ordinary water-gage and try-cocks. Fig. 4: is a vertical section on line y y in Fig. 1.

A is a steam-generator, which may be of any known construction.

B is a vertical tube or vessel communicating either directly or by means of a suitable connection 0 at the bottom with the lowest or a relatively low point of the water-space of the generator and through the pipe D with the highest or relatively highpoint of the steam-space of the generator at three points in the height of the vessel 13, which points correspond with the ordinarily-chosen trial-point for measuring the height of the water in the generator entering three gage-tubes or watercolumns E E E, which extend upwardly,

but which are inclined at or near the point of connection into the tube 13, (more or less.) These tubes extend to the desired elevation at which my water-gage is desired to be used, and which elevation, as will appear hereinafter, must be below the height at which a column of water can be supported by the pressure of the steam ordinarily carried in the generator.

The upper end of the pipes E E E are closed, and each is connected with a glass tube F in the same manner as in the ordinary construction of water-gages, therebeing valves G G, which control the communication from the water-column into the bottom and top, respectively, of the glass tube and the drip-cock II at the lower end. The upper ends of the columns are preferably jeilfitly inclosed by a suitable casing I, made more or less ornamental and surmounted by a suitable steam-gage J, which is connected withthe steam-space of the boiler through a steam-pipe K in the ordinary manner. This steam-pipe K, I preferably lead through the casing I, so that the casing, in addition to its mere ornamental feature, becomes useful in concentrating the warmth from the steampipe around the upper ends of the column and in proximity to the glass tubes to prevent freezing in case of cold weather. v

In practice my device, being arranged as shown and described, is intended to operate as follows: When the generator is cold and provided with water at the usual heights, the pipes E, E, and E are filled only to a point corresponding with the level of the water in the generator, or nearly so. If the fire is built and steam generated, however, it will be seen that the pressure of the steam very soon tends to forceth e water up into the pipes E E E, respectively, provided the height of the water in the generator is high enough to enter the lower ends of these pipes. To place the water-gage in an operative condition, the operator has to wait until sufficient pressure of steam in the boiler is generated. Then he opens the valve G on every column, and also the drip-cock II. This permits the air from the pipes E E E to escape, and as soon as this is effected and steam or Water issues from the drip-cock H the latter is closed and the valves low the level of the water in the generator a water column will be forced up in these pipes and will also fill the glass tubes F, whereas if the lower end of pipe E" is above the level of the water in the generator steam only will rise in the pipe E and no water will make its appearance in the tube F belonging to this pipe. Now if during the operation of the generator the water in the generator should fall below the lower end of the pipe E the steam, favored by the inclination of thelower end of the pipe E, will force its way up and displace the water, and thereby form a telltale in the glass tube belonging to the column. The same will take place in the column E if the water in the generator should sink below the lower end of the pipe E. If the water in the generator is raisedagain,it will again be forced up into the tubes E E as soon as it covers the lower ends of the tubes, as the steam which becomes trapped in these tubes will condense and form a vacuum, which lets the water pass up.

Thus my device, while it does not indicate the oxactheight of the water in the generator, nevertheless forms as valuable a tell-tale as the ordinary water-gage, as the presence or absence of the glass tubes F forms a sure indication of the condition of the generator in regard to the height of the water.

My device is not intended so much for the information of the engineer in charge of the generator, but rather for those situafed some distance therefrom desiring to maintain a watch over the actions of those in direct charge of the generator. For the latter I provide the ordinary appliances asin present use, and for this purpose I utilize the pipes or vessel B, as shown in Fig. 3, wherein L is the ordinary glass gage, and M M M are the trycocks.

My invention broadly consists in the use of water columns sustained from different levels of the water in the generator by the pressure of steam, and the only necessary element is two or more of such tubes, preferably three, connected at the same height at which the try-cocks are used. At the upper ends of these pipes and connected thereto in any suitable manner may be a transparent sight with a suitable valve for letting the air escape when the column is first produced.

The specific construction shown in the drawings is merely preferred by me on account of the familiar appearance produced by similarity with the ordinary water-gage, and it is obvious that the arrangement of the valves G G and drip II and glass tubes F is mainly designed on such account, although the construction shown has the well known advantages connected with the use of the water-gage of forming ready means for cleaning the glass tubes F or to quickly replace them when broken.

The inclination of the pipes E E E at the lower end has the advantage of the ready displacement of the water column as soon as the water drops below the ends of the pipe; otherwise it would take. very large-sized pipe to obtain the same result without inclining the pipes in the manner shown.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. In a water-gage, two or more water columns sustained by the pressure of the steam of the generator from different levels of water in said generator, substantially as described.

2. In a water-gage, the combination, with the generator, of a vessel outside said generator and communicating with the water and steam space of the generator, and a series of water columns sustained from said vessel by the pressure of the steam in the generator at different points of the level of the water in the generator, substantially as described.

3. In a water-gage, the combination, with the generator, of a vessel outside said generator communicating with the water and steam space of the generator, and a series of vertical water columns having their lower ends inclined and sustained from said vessel by the pressure of the steam in the generator at different points of the level of the water in the generator, substantially as described.

4.. In a water-gage, the combination, with the generator, of two or more pipes communicating at their lower ends with the steamgenerator at different points corresponding to different levels of the water in the generator and provided at their upper ends with sighttubes and air-valves, substantially as described.

5. In a water-gage, the combination, with the steam-generator, of the vessel B, communieating with the steam and water space of said generator at opposite ends, the pipes E E E, communicating with said vessel at different points in relation to the height of the water in the generator, and the glass tube F, communicating with the upper ends of these tubes and having suitable valves, substantially as described.

('1. In a water-gage, the combination, with the steam-generator, of the vessel 13, communicating therewith, the pipes E E E, communicating with those pipes, the valves G G, the drip-cock II, and the inclosing casing I, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I LlllX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK II. MONTREUIL.

Witnesses:

M. l ODoonER'rr, I. M. llULBERT. 

